Inhereting My Fathers 27 T

R

RDyer216

Junior Member
Hey Forums Members!

Names Richard and I am glad to finally have the opportunity to post on this site and work on a 1927 Model T that has been in my family since 1963. My father purchased this car back in 1963. Drove it for a couple of decades or so and it has been parked in a garage for the past 25-30+years.

My brother and I have been wanting to fix it for a few years now. We are hoping some forum members have contacts in the Massachusetts area, and maybe some good or bad experiences with Model T mechanics and can point us in the right direction. This car drove to where it sits today and I would like to keep it as original as possible. I have posted a link to photobucket with a few pictures of it. The pictures are bad. The lighting was not great and frankly the garage its in scares the heck out of me so I was snapping pictures as fast as possible. From what I can see, paint looks good, Interior as well. Basically looking to have motor rebuilt if needed and all hoses and lines redone if necessary.

Does anyone know how much a project like this should run, barring not catastrophes and any reputable mechanics in the Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine or New York area?

Thanks


http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/Richard_Dyer/slideshow/1927%20Model%20T
 
If it ran good then. I would think it would probably still run good. Unless stuff was left off and moisture got in it. Clean it get it running and safe. I would think good new tires would be the biggest expense if the motor is ok. I would not put a bunch in it.
 
Pretty cool you can enjoy your Dad's treasure. Model Ts are simple but unique. Enjoy. It looks like a wonderful beginning. If the engine isn't stuck it shouldn't need much to get it running. I would advise you to get it running and enjoy it rather than immediately tearing it apart to "restore" it.
 
First grab the crank and give it a turn, if it moves your ready to begin. Put some
marvel mystery oil or atf in the cylinders and let it sit while you do the following.
These things can sit for ever and still come back to life. I have seen it many times.
Just go at it slow and easy. Drain the oil, pull the dip pan off the bottom and clean everything out. Look it the gas tank, hopefully it was drained before it was parked.
If not see whats in there and check back for a plan of attack. Different problems have
different fixes. Check the fluid in the rear end grease up all the different grease fitting
Flush the cooling system and put on your new hoses.
If it still has the coils in it for the ignition you will have to clean the points.
Go back to the crank again and see if you have compression in each cylinder. If some
have it and some don't you probably have a stuck valve. If so pull the valve cover or covers off the side of the motor and watch the valves. If some are stuck open use
the 50/50 atf and acetone treatment. spray it on the valves and stems, pull the plugs
and see if you can get some in the valve area. Let it sit for a couple of days and then
take a screw driver and see if you can unstick the valves.
If every thing is moving and you have compression. Also grab the connecting rods
and see if any are loose. If all is ok squirt oil all over the rod bearings and mains.
Put the inspection pan back on and fill with fresh oil. maybe get a carb gasket kit
and pull the bottom of the carb off and clean it out.
Put in gas, get a battery it can be a 12v out of another car and use jumper cables.
Get you coils buzzing check for spark at the spark plugs if you have and electric starter
give it a shot, if not get cranking.
This is pretty straight forward, you should try it yourself. If you can tie your shoes laces
you can work on a Model T.
And keep checking back here, you'll get plenty of advise from every one here.

Dodge
 
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You have some good advice above. For more info, here's Milt Webb's checklist for getting a T going after it has sat for a long time: http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG93.html

I like the comment that if you can tie your shoes you can work on a T. That's pretty much true. The T is a pretty simple affair. BUT it contains some surprises. Forewarned is forearmed, so you don't inflict costly damage. Here's what you need for that: http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG80.html

If it turns out that the car was parked because it needed major repair, you may indeed need a Model T specialist. George King is in Massachusetts, and has a reputation for very good work. Also in Massachusetts is Lang's Old Car Parts, one of the leading dealers in Model T Parts. http://www.modeltford.com/

I second Dick Webber's advice against tearing it all apart for a "restoration". Fix what needs fixing and enjoy it.
 
big job said:
where abouts, in Mass or Ri I can help
sam
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The Car is located in the North Shore, about 30 mins north of Boston. I am currently living in New York thats why I am open to where I have work done. I am tempted to work on it myself, but once I pull it out of the garage its in, there is no real good place to work on it. Its in a garage of some property that my family owns but we have tenants there and we can't use the space freely. Thats the main reason for seeking a reputable mechanic, because they have a place to store while waiting for parts.
 
Steve Jelf said:
You have some good advice above. For more info, here's Milt Webb's checklist for getting a T going after it has sat for a long time: http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG93.html

I like the comment that if you can tie your shoes you can work on a T. That's pretty much true. The T is a pretty simple affair. BUT it contains some surprises. Forewarned is forearmed, so you don't inflict costly damage. Here's what you need for that: http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG80.html

If it turns out that the car was parked because it needed major repair, you may indeed need a Model T specialist. George King is in Massachusetts, and has a reputation for very good work. Also in Massachusetts is Lang's Old Car Parts, one of the leading dealers in Model T Parts. http://www.modeltford.com/

I second Dick Webber's advice against tearing it all apart for a "restoration". Fix what needs fixing and enjoy it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the names. I will clarify that when I say restore, I meant to only fix what needs fixin. My father always wanted to restore it to the last time he ran it and that was it.

Thankfully the car was only parked, not due to major repair needed, but because my father has prone to divorce and this was the safest place to store it so an ex-wife couldn't take half of it at the time of one of his divorces :). We actually removed the garage door of this garage about a decade ago, so first step is going to be getting the wall removed so it can be moved.
 
I would only use J and M machine in Southborough Ma. They can take care of all repairs in house, they will make certain the parts being rebuilt will be free of flaws and will keep you involved and informed throughout any work being done with clear pictures and explanations! They are also great guys! Rebuilding these engine properly can get expensive, it would be awful to go through the trouble only to have a problem a few years latter, do it right and once! http://jandm-machine.com
 
A half hour north of Boston puts the vehicle near Newburyport or Andover. both are with in a half hour of me. I pulled a T out of storage after 45 years and after a few hours of simple work it ran without a problem. There are a few things you need to do to make sure it is safe but storage from the mid 80's to now is a piece of cake.

Let me know if you need help. J&M is good for a motor rebuild but I doubt if you need to go that far. After all I have a 1919 that has never had the motor rebuilt and we did a 90 mile tour just a few weeks ago.

BTW - Lang's is a fantastic source for parts.
 
nhusa said:
A half hour north of Boston puts the vehicle near Newburyport or Andover. both are with in a half hour of me. I pulled a T out of storage after 45 years and after a few hours of simple work it ran without a problem. There are a few things you need to do to make sure it is safe but storage from the mid 80's to now is a piece of cake.

Let me know if you need help. J&M is good for a motor rebuild but I doubt if you need to go that far. After all I have a 1919 that has never had the motor rebuilt and we did a 90 mile tour just a few weeks ago.

BTW - Lang's is a fantastic source for parts.
Click to expand...

Right in the area. Its in Topsfield Mass currently. PM ME your info, maybe we can get together sometime when i'm home again and see where I stand with this bad boy.
 
I have a garage I can use if it is running. I would never be allowed to put something that I am not using there, but if I get it running it will be a warm welcome to its new home.
 
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